German Government Plans Stricter Migration Control, Proposes Legislation for Faster Deportation and Longer Jail Terms for People Smugglers

New legislation gets German Cabinet's approval, increasing pre-deportation detention time for irregular migrants and enhancing search measures while the Interior Minister moves to toughen penalties for people smugglers, amid a surge in asylum requests and political pressure.

The German Cabinet has approved new legislation aimed at strengthening immigration laws to allow for faster deportation and longer pre-deportation detention periods. The new rules extend the detention time before deportation from 10 to 28 days.
As part of the legislative move, residential searches for documentation would be allowed, ensuring that authorities can firmly establish an individual's identity. In certain cases, advance notice of deportation may not be necessary.
German Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, has pledged to increase penalties for people smugglers, especially in instances of violence. The current penalties, ranging from three months to 15 years dependent on circumstances, are set to be reviewed, offering harsher penalties.
This legislation forms part of Germany's response to a surge in asylum applications, with the numbers of first-time applications nearly 80% higher in the first seven months of 2023 compared to last year. Notably, the country has taken in over a million Ukrainians, fleeing Russia's war in their homeland this year.
The Germany's Interior Ministry also plans to negotiate with countries of origin for the return of unsuccessful asylum-seekers and migrants, with negotiations underway with several countries including Georgia, Moldova, Kenya, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.